Shovel.



J. A. SOUTHWELL.

SHOVEL.

APPLICATION FILED JUJLY 14,1908.

902,261. Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

- JOHN A. SOUTHWELL, OF WYOMING, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Application filed July 14, 1908. Serial No. 443,462.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN A. SoUTHwELL, citizen of the United States, residing at \Vyoming, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shovels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shovels and similar implements and has for its object to provide imlproved means for attaching the shovel plate or blade to the handle. By the means shown herein no rivets are required to fasten the straps to the plate, and instead of being welded or riveted, the straps are fastened by projections at the edges thereof which are bent over and inserted in holes in the heel of the shovel plate and then clenched or riveted. In this way shovels can be made cheaper, and leaving smooth back and front straps on the finished article, and very neat and durable. There are no rivets to wear off on the back, allowing the strap and handle to become loose, and the strength of the implement remains unimpaired.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of a complete shovel provided with the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan of the shovel plate with perforations to receive the projections on the straps; Fig. 3 is a plan of the front strap blank; Fig. 4 is a similar view of the back strap blank; Fig. 5 is an edge view of the front strap blank with the projections turned down to fit in the holes in the blade.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 indicates the blade of a shovel. This may be a spade, scoop, fork or similar implement. At the heel the blade blank is provided with two rows of perforations or holes indicated at 7 and 8 respectively, the former for the tongues on the front strap and the latter for those on the back. strap.

The front strap is indicated at 9, and its triangular head has tongues 10 on two sides, which are bent down as indicated in Fig. 5 to fit in the holes or slots 7. The back strap 11 has similar tongues 12, bent up to fit in the holes 8. Both straps have rivet holes 13 to receive the rivets by which the handle 1 L is attached.

WVhen the parts are assembled the straps are applied to the front and back of the blade respectively and the tongues are then clenched or riveted down on the blade, the tongues on the front strap being inclosed or covered by the head of the back strap, on the under side. This gives a smooth under side, neat in appearance and with a good slip in use. The tongues of the back strap are clenched down on the upper side of the blade. These operations in assembling can all be done quickly by machinery, in less time than is now required for riveting, and the parts cost less because of the absence of expense for rivets.

I claim:

An implement of the kind stated, having a body plate with inner and outer rows of holes at the heel thereof, and front and back straps the front ends of which have tongues struck up therefrom at opposite sides, said tongues being inserted through the said holes from opposite sides of the plates respectively and clenched on the other side of the plate, the back strap covering the tongues of the front strap on the back of the plate.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. SOUTHWELL.

8 Aims BIERMAN.

mark. 

